Like a good gambler, Todd Ripplinger keeps raising the stakes.

The Regina Pats' head scout is holding a straight flush in the form of five consecutive payouts at the WHL bantam draft. That said, he'll be dealing with a whole new hand when the 2008 draft begins Thursday in Calgary.

"You have to keep doing it; that's my job," Ripplinger said of the Pats' good fortune over the past five years. "It's gratifying that we've had good drafts but we haven't had the final result. You strive to be the best. The ultimate goal is to win a championship and we haven't done that."

Despite the Pats' lack of postseason success, few teams are in the same league in terms of drafting WHL-calibre talent. For example, the Pats selected 18 players from 2003 to 2005 who played at the WHL level or higher last season. That number places Regina on par with the Calgary Hitmen and Vancouver Giants, who are at the top of the list, and a notch higher than the Brandon Wheat Kings, who historically might be the best drafting team in the league.

"We're really pleased with the way the drafts have gone for us the last few years," said Pats GM Brent Parker. "It's not by accident. I think it's a lot of hard work on our scouts part and being prepared and doing their homework -- and a little bit of luck. There's no doubt about it, you have to get that too."

The Pats' drafting proficiency was a mixed bag prior to the current five-year run, plagued by recruiting issues as well as some poor selections. Those mistakes were magnified by the loss of top prospects and draft picks that were sacrificed to bolster the team's run at the 2001 Memorial Cup.

After three straight losing seasons, the catalyst for the franchise's turnaround came in 2003 when the Pats began to focus on drafting Saskatchewan-based talent with a greater emphasis on speed and skill. Armed with a full slate of picks -- plus a few extras -- the team's fortunes began to change, resulting in three straight winning campaigns.

"Todd and I spent a lot of time talking, a lot of hours on the road," recalled Parker, who works closely with Ripplinger throughout the season and at the draft. "We changed our philosophy and how we approached the draft. It has worked out really well for us. We'll continue along the same thought processes because we believe we've had good success with it."

It won't get any easier for Ripplinger & Co., who were deprived of their third- and fourth-round picks this year in exchange for veteran players. The gamble didn't pay off as the Pats were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

If Parker can't replace at least one of those selections, the Pats will have to find a way to do more with less.

"When you don't have picks in certain rounds, it's tough because there's no room for error," noted Ripplinger. "But we've done it before. You just work through it. I'm confident with our list. Hopefully we can find some diamonds in the rough in the later rounds."

Some of the Pats' shrewdest picks have come in the late rounds, including the selection of sniper Jordan Eberle in the seventh round (126th overall) in 2005. Of their nine total selections that year, seven were regulars in the WHL last season.

Generally speaking, a team is considered successful if it produces three or four WHLers from each draft.

"I can't say enough about the job our scouts have done," added Parker. "They're a good group and a fun group. I think a big part of our success is that we're able to disagree on players for the right reasons in terms of creating good discussion. It has been very positive."

REGINA PATS SUCCESS AT THE BANTAM DRAFT

2003: Four of their top five picks were impact players in the WHL last season: D Logan Pyett (first round), RW Justin Bernhardt (2nd), D Craig Schira (6th) and C Ian Duval (7th). Note: Their third pick, C Jordan Baker, played in the NCAA with Michigan Tech. Two late selections -- D Matt MacDermott (10th) and G Ryan Nieszner (11th) -- have played games in the WHL.

2004: Five of their top six picks were impact players in the league last season: RW Brett Leffler (1st), D Nick Ross (2nd), G Linden Rowat (3rd), D Matt Delahey (3rd) and LW Derek Hulak (6th). Note: Another third-round pick, C Jason MacDonald, was a part-time WHLer last season.

2005: Seven of nine total picks played in the WHL last season: D Colten Teubert (1st), C Brayden Metz (2nd), G Jeff Bosch (3rd), RW Kyle St. Denis (5th), D Curtis Kulchar (7th), RW Jordan Eberle (7th) and LW Brent Raedeke (8th). Note: Their fourth pick, D Dru Cotterill, is still on their protected list.

2006: Each of their top three picks played in the WHL at age 16 last season: RW Brett Miller (1st), RW Garrett Mitchell (2nd) and D Alex Pym (3rd). Six others are slated to be in camp next season with a chance to make the club: D Koltyn Miller (4th), D Travis Sparrow (7th), F Kenton Miller (7th), D Byron Sorenson (8th), LW Kyle Mulder (8th) and G Damien Ketlo (10th).

2007: Each of their top five picks are legitimate candidates to play in Regina next season as 16-year-olds: C Dominick Favreau, F Graham Hood, D Justin Slobozian, F Jordan Weal and G Derek Tendler.

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